Marking-ink fountain



(No Model.) I F. E. FROST. MARKING INK FOUNTAIN.

"No 591,349. Patented Oct. 5, 1 897.

ZZ/JZj EEE E I IZZY/2.12101 UNITED V STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK E. FROST, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES M.FOWLER, OF SAME PLACE, AND FRANCIS D. GRISWOLD,

OF KEENE, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

MARKING-INK FOUNTAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part bf Letters Patent No. 591,349, dated October5, 1897.

. Application filed July 13,1396. Serial No.598,$ )96. on model.)

To on whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK E. FRosT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State ofMassachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Marking-InkFountains, of which the following, together with the accompanyingdrawings, is a specification sufficiently full, clear, and exact toenable persons skilled in the art to which this invention appertains tomake and use the same. I

The object of this invention is to provide a marking or stencil inkfountain with a simple elastic ball, in combination with itspalate-plate, whereby the air-pressure within the reservoir for feedingor ejecting the ink or color to the palate-surface can be induced in asimple and practically-convenient manner, as it may be required also, toafford means for supporting and attaching a hollow elastic .ball incombination with. the metal can or fountain and connecting the same withthe chamber, as more fully hereinafter described. These objects I attainby the utensil or apparatus shown in the drawings, wherein Figure 1 is aperspective view of my improved marking-ink fountain. Fig. 2 is .avertical section of the same.

In my improved fountain, A indicates the can or reservoir for containingthe supply of stencil-ink or color liquid. Said can is of the usualcylindrical shape, formed of sheet metal and having a suitable handle Don the side thereof. The can has a fiat palate-top A, upon which the inkor color is delivered for use from the interior of the reservoir throughthe small orifice C and internal depending tube C, as heretoforepracticed. The top plate A is preferably combined with the cylinder A insuch manner as to provide an upwardly-projecting rim (1 about thepalate-surface. The bottom plate is also arranged so as to afford adownward rim a about the base, which serves as a foot for the utensil.

The reservoir is provided with the usual opening and screw-cap B, tofacilitate filling. Such cap is fitted to be air-tight when closed. Theorifice C opens through the tube 0,

end.

E indicates a brush holder or support consisting of a wire bent in theform of a loop at its upper end and having its upright stem rigidlyattached to the. side of the reservoir.

F indicates a hollow elastic ball arranged at a convenient position uponthe reservoir and communicating with the interior thereof by an airpassage or tube G. Said ball, which is preferably an ordinaryindia-rubber ball about two inches, more or less, in diameter, is bestsupported by a rim or flange H, rigidly attached to the plate or metalof the reservoir and projecting therefrom sufficiently far to form a cupor seat for receiving the ball, and within which the ball is firmlysecured by suitable cement h or equivalent fastening material thatretains the base of the ball fixed in place, while leaving its upperportion exposed for flexure and reduction by applied pressure. The tubeG passes through the substance of the ball and fits tightly in the metalplate of the reservoir. Said tube is best disposed at a position withinthe attached seat and gives free air-passage between the ball andreservoir-space. If the elastic ball becomes broken by use, it can bereadily removed and a new one cemented into the seat-flange. The tube Gmay be threaded or soldered for retaining it in position.

In the operation when more ink or color is desired upon thestencil-brush or upon the palate-surface the operator presses upon theelastic ball F, causing inward flexture of its sack, thereby forcing theair from theinterior of the ball through the pass Gintothe interiorspace i of the reservoir above the surface of the liquid I thereincontained. This increases the internal pressure and causes the liquid toflow up the tube C and out from the orifice C upon the palate-surface,or directly upon the brush if the latter is held over the orifice. Theink is then used from the palatesurface in the usual manner. Whenpressure is removed from the ball F, its resilient action causes it toimmediately regain its spherical condition, thereby effecting a partialexhaustion of the air-space in the reservoir and sucking in through thetube C sufficient air to take the place of the liquid pre- Viouslyejected.

The operation is very simple and convenient, and the improved utensil,while practieallyeficient and desirable, can be produced atcomparatively small expense.

It will be understood that I do not broadly claim the invention in amarking-ink fountain of a flat palate-surface with the orifice anddependent tube for delivering ink to said surface, nor the dispensing ofink by action of air-pressure within the reservoir, as such features arewell known in the art; but my invention has reference to the improvedmeans for controlling the delivery and to the combinations of partsproducing a markingink fountain of the peculiar construction defined.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In amarking-ink fountain, comprising a reservoir provided with the top orpalate plate having the orifice and tube connected therewith fordelivery of ink or color from the reservoir to the palate-surface; thecombination of the projecting cup-flange attached to said top plate, thehollow elastic ball seated attaching said ball to its seat and the shorttube within said seat passing from the interior of the ball to theinterior of the fountain-reservoir, as set forth.

2. In a stencil or marking ink fountain the reservoir for containing theink or color formed with its top plate or palate-surface sunk below thelevel of the top edge of the surrounding rim, and means, consisting ofthe closely-attached elastic ball supported thereon substantially asdescribed, for controlling the delivery of ink from the reservoir to thepalate-surface, as set forth.

3. A utensil for the purpose specified, comprising the cylindrical metalcan having the handle D and recessed top and bottom, the fiat top withthe orifice C and depending tube 0 connected therewith, the air-tightscrew-cap B, the wire brush-supporterE fixed to theside of the can, theupward cup-flange H, the hollow rubber ball F seated within said flange,and the tube G communicating between the interiors of said ball and can,all substantially as shown and described.

Witness my hand this 11th day of July, A. D. 1896.

FREDERICK E. FROST. \Vitnesses:

CHAS. I'I. BURLEIGH, H. M. CALDWELL.

